Several Years ago my Bride and I were about to embark on homeschooling.  We had selected a curriculum.  The curriculum publisher had an online forum for parents to converse and get encouragement and assistance.  My Bride decided to join. But she needed a Username… what should she call herself?

My Bride and I have an inside joke.  The joke revolves around her theory that I am really an old man trapped in a young man’s life.  The evidence: I’m a crank.

What makes me a crank?

• I am typically cold.  I wear lots of clothes: a sweater, a sport coat, often a scarf. I find hot drinks help keep me warm. I drink a lot of black coffee.  I am rarely without a mug, sitting silently with my thoughts and book, hunkered with clenched jaw.
• I have a bum knee and often throw my hip out, resulting in a noticeable limp.  I have learned that certain activities, like wrestling and playing soccer with before mentioned younger beings, inevitable will result in pain.    Thus, when I decline participation I appear a curmudgeon.
• In addition, random, loud noises put me at ill-ease.    I currently live with several smaller, younger beings who have yet to learn to control their noise.  I therefore welcome bedtime.    This makes me seem a killjoy.
• I work with information technology all day all in very political environment.  Stuff rarely work as anticipated and I am often assigned to committees to discuss appropriate improvement processes.   Regardless of the process, the desired outcome is always the same: it should work better.   I am not optimistic that a committee, often containing individuals not intimate with the machinations of vaporware, will yield great insight regarding performance improving methodologies.   Some deem me a naysayer.
• Finally. I am shameless in my lack of understanding, yet strongly committed to justice. Therefore, I often ask people to clarify their meaning.  I come across as combatant (some would even say cantankerous) in conversation.  I believe this directly contributes to my being labeled a crank.

All of the above has resulted in her lovingly referring to me as “kevinstein,” making me scarves and buying me over-sized coffee mugs. Also, my suggestion that her forum username be “brideofkevinstein.”

An Update!  Still a Crank?

I wrote the above some time ago.  Since then, some things have changed.

• The first being that I sought medical assistance and am on some medication that reduces my arthritic symptoms, including my low body temperature.  I’m not so cold anymore, which means I don’t clench my jaw or hunch my shoulders so much.  In general, I feel a lot better.
• I had knee surgery and that has helped a lot with walking and mild sports activities, though I must say my glorious soccer career has ended.
• My children are getting older and can manage their noise better.  In addition, they are much more conversational and I feel like I can relate to them so much better.  It is  getting easier to share with them the things I enjoy, like books and movies.
• Work… well, work is still work. And I don’t know how to feel about it.  But I’m learning about faithful presence.  I believe God has me working in Higher Education IT for the moment for a reason, and so I will try to live in a way that is trusting.
• I have found outlets for combatant conversation.  It seems if I can occasionally get with others and hash out some ideas, then I don’t have to do it all the time.

So, am I still a Crank?  Well, the Bride says “yes.” No doubt there is still work to be done in me.  But I am hopeful.  I can have hope because God is faithful and true, and He will do it.